Appointment, Location, and Coordination

The Governor with the advice of the State Senate appoints Magistrates to four-year terms. Each Magistrate has countywide authority, with a Chief Magistrate coordinating their efforts. The Chief Magistrate is appointed semiannually by the Chief Justice of the SC Supreme Court.

Nine Magistrates serve in seven offices throughout Lexington County.  The offices are:

1) Central Traffic Court, Bond Court, and Criminal Domestic Violence (CDV) Court

2) Lexington Magistrate Court

3) Irmo Magistrate Court

4) Batesburg-Leesville Magistrate Court

5) Swansea Magistrate Court

6) Cayce-West Columbia Magistrate Court

7) Oak Grove Magistrate Court

The Magistrates coordinate their work to efficiently allocate time to each case, exchange ideas and opinions, and cover a District if one of the Magistrates is sick or on vacation. Their support for each other and ability to interpret legislation and procedures in the same way ensures a fair and equitable trial for both sides. These efforts are aided through mandatory schooling provided through the SC Court Administration.

An ongoing project for the Magistrate’s Office is to provide better service to Lexington County Citizens. Cmputers are being utilized, for example, to provide rapid access to files and to contain the cost of hiring new employees. Through these methods, Magistrates can serve Lexington County Citizens in ways that are more efficient.